Terms of Reference

Stock assessment of capelan in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST) in 2023

Regional - Quebec Region

February 27-28, 2024

Mont-Joli, QC

Chairperson: Jean-Martin Chamberland

Context

The ecosystem and fisheries management sector of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has requested to provide scientific advice on the state of stocks in order to develop management measures for the 2024 fishing season for capelin in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (4RST). This stock is prescribed under section 6 of the Fisheries Act. The assessment of the capelin stock in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO divisions 4RST) is carried out every two years. The last assessment took place in April 2022 (DFO 2022) and a science response on the update of stock status indicators was presented in April 2023 (DFO 2023). This science response was intended to guide management decisions regarding the establishment of a total allowable catch (TAC) for the 2023 fishing season. The TAC of 10,225 tons established in 2022 has been maintained since the available evidence (low approximations of fishing mortality and composite indicator of stock status around the long-term average indicated that the harvest levels reached over the last decade should not pose a risk to the 4RST stock in 2023.

Objectives

Provide advice on:

• Stock status and trends, taking into account assumptions regarding stock structure and distribution. Include the historical and recent trajectory of both stock and fishing indicators such as the directed fishing landings, the abundance index of capelin caught in the multi-species research survey in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, approximations of fishing mortality, and the distribution size, maturity and condition of capelin.
• Environmental and climate change considerations affecting the stock the increase in water temperature and the changes in the sea ice winter in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Evaluate or provide estimates of:
• Spawning biomass at the time of the research surveys
• Recruitment
• Annual natural mortality
• Vulnerable biomass
• Candidate limit reference point for the stock
• Procedures for interim year updates for the stock such as a science response to guide management decisions for the current year

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Research Document

Expected Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) sectors
• Academia
• Indigenous communities/organizations
• Industry
• Environmental non-government organizations

References

• DFO. 2022. Assessment of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) Capelin Stock in 2021. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2022/023.
• DFO. 2023. Update of stock status indicators of the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (Divisions 4RST) capelin stock in 2022. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Res. 2023/030.